Personally, this wasn’t worth reading. With little exception, I felt like I was reading a kiddie story. This book is the equivalent of a Disney or PG movie.

I mean, it’s a “murder mystery” so all that really doesn’t add up. The story, the characters, the names, the places are all cute and farcical. It’s like someone tried to make murder wholesome with a lot of make believe thrown in. The plot is simple and silly, and I’m not sure if that is by design or if that’s just the way it turned out. Was this written for young teens or general mystery readership, I don’t know.

And then there is Gunn Zoo, the most unsafe zoo in the world.... ( )

THE PANDA OF DEATH by Betty Webb is the 6th title in her Gunn Zoo Mystery series.
Our main characters are Theodora (Teddy) Bentley, zookeeper extraordinaire at the Gunn Zoo in San Sebastian, California; the Gunn Zoo itself and its many inhabitants, including Poonya, the zoo’s new red panda.
Teddy is now married to Sheriff Joe Rejas and her new ‘family life’ is center stage, as is a favorite local children’s tv program that her step-children (indeed, all of the town of San Sebastian) enjoy watching, KGNN’s ‘Tippy-Toe & Tinker’.
The characters in this series are very interesting, eclectic and enthusiastic, as is the zoo setting and its animals. There is lots of murder, funny zoo anecdotes and amateur sleuthing on the part of Teddy.
The books are interesting and fun to read; intriguing story lines are full of twists and turns and relationships; Teddy’s live-aboard boat in Gunn Landing Harbor, the MERILEE, and harbor life, itself, provides many a good setting; anecdotes about the zoo and its animals add interest and humor.
I like Betty Webb’s ‘About the Author’ section. She is a member of the National Organization of Zoo Keepers, as well as the National Federation of Press Women and the Mystery Writers of America. For more info see bettywebb-mystery.com
A very fun series to read. I heartily recommend it. ( )